The various sea lavender species from the genus Limonium are often referred to in German-speaking countries as withers or sea lavender, the latter designation refers to the common natural distribution areas near the coast. With its taproot, the perennial plant not only finds a secure footing on sand dunes, but can also be planted in the garden in lean and full sun locations.

Sea lavender is very hardy

Overwinter the sea lavender in a tub or in an outdoor bed

With their long taproots, most members of the genus Limonium are easily hardy even in the cooler regions of Central Europe if they are planted directly in the garden soil. Since the adult plants can withstand winter frosts down to minus 28 degrees, frost damage only occurs, if at all, in seedlings that are planted out too early. But things can look a little different if the sea lavender is cultivated in a fairly small pot on the terrace. In order to get the sea lavender well through the winter in the pot, you should wrap it with an insulation layer, which can consist of the following materials, for example:

  • jute ribbons
  • garden fleece
  • bubble wrap

The right care before and during the winter

Before winter, the aerial parts of the sea lavender should be cut off near the ground. This autumn care cut not only makes spring care easier, but also allows the plants to be covered with a layer of leaves or brushwood during the winter. In the sea lavender, however, this protective layer serves less as frost protection and more as a barrier against too much winter moisture. If there are persistent frosts in winter, occasional watering is recommended on frost-free days to avoid dry damage.

Let the sea lavender get off to a good start in the new growing season

After the winter, depending on the weather, you should remove the protective layer of leaves over the sea lavender in good time so that mold does not form underneath due to the warming rays of the spring sun. If the Limonium was cut back in autumn, no further care measures are required apart from fertilization. The budding is particularly strong if you give the sea lavender a complete fertilizer in April.

tips

Immediately after the hibernation, you can propagate the sea lavender with root cuttings, which you cut off in March from a mother plant that is at least 3 years old, each about 5 centimeters long. In a pot with a sand-soil mixture, the root cuttings grow into strong young plants within a few weeks, which can be planted out in a new location in the same year.

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Herbs